Manuel Pellegrini takes a title race time out to hit some balls on the golf course

He may have a title race to focus on, but Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini still found some time to hit the golf course and unwind on Wednesday afternoon.

With the Premier League coming to a conclusion in just under a fortnight, City currently lie third in the table, three points off leaders Liverpool, but with a game in hand to come on their north-westerly rivals.

Yet in a situation where others would usually appear flustered and stressed, the Chilean - well known in most quarters as 'The Engineer' - was an ice cool oasis of calm as he knocked a few balls around his local Cheshire course, showing no signs of strain whatsoever ahead of his side's potentially decisive trip to Everton on Saturday evening.

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Because it has been something of a mixed first year for Pellegrini in Manchester.

Despite a period at the turn of the year where they seemed unstoppable - in which the League Cup trophy was acquired - City then suffered a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona, before being unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by Wigan - their Wembley conquerors from last May.

And there was a time, just a few short weeks ago, when a disappointing defeat at Liverpool and a disastrous draw at home to Sunderland seemed to put end to their title dream altogether.

But such has been the unpredictable nature of this Premier League season that, last Sunday, Chelsea's shock victory at Anfield hurled them right back into the mixer.

From virtually nowhere, they now appear to be the slightest of favourites. And if they are to win their final three fixtures - with home games against struggling West Ham and Aston Villa to follow their trip to Goodison Park - the chances are that, come May 11, Pellegrini will be lifting his first ever domestic league title.

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Swings and roundabouts: The Chilean has had a mixed first season at the Etihad